SanctionsLookup

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Free OFAC Search Tool

Instant OFAC checker to screen names, entities, and crypto wallets
against U.S. Treasury SDN and non-SDN lists.

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How This Instant OFAC Checker Works

Run an instant OFAC check in three steps:

  1. Enter a name or identifier. Search an individual, company, vessel, aircraft, or crypto wallet.
  2. Select the subject type. Tell the checker what you are screening so the results can be matched more accurately.
  3. Review potential matches. See match scores, aliases, sanctions programs, and the list where each result appears.

The checker uses fuzzy matching to catch spelling variations, transliterations, and aliases, not just exact name matches. This matters because Arabic, Chinese, and Cyrillic names can have multiple valid Latin spellings. An exact-match search can miss a sanctioned party simply because its name is spelled differently.

What An OFAC Match Result Shows

An OFAC lookup result shows more than a name. Each potential match includes a match score, aliases or a.k.a. names, the source list, and applicable sanctions programs such as IRAN-EO13902 or SDGT.

A 100% match is uncommon for real-world names. Common names can produce multiple potential matches, so a match is a lead for review, not a final determination. Compare the result with additional identifiers such as date of birth, nationality, address, or other unique information before deciding whether it is a true match.

This makes the tool useful for OFAC verification and initial sanctions screening without treating every name similarity as a sanctions hit.

Why Use This OFAC Checker Instead Of The Official Search Tool?

OFAC's official search is useful when you need to look up a specific name manually. But if you are screening customers, counterparties, or payments regularly, you want the search itself to do more of the work.

The underlying data comes from the same US Treasury sanctions lists. SanctionsLookup gives you a faster screening workflow: enter a name or identifier, select what you are screening, and get ranked potential matches with scores, aliases, sanctions programs, and list sources in one place. The data is synced every 15 minutes, so you are not working from an outdated copy of the sanctions lists.

SanctionsLookup handles the matching automatically and makes potential matches easier to review. It supports individuals, entities, vessels, aircraft, and crypto wallets from the same search interface.

OFAC itself says its Sanctions List Search is intended for individual users and should not be used by automated systems running continuous searches (FAQ 287). When manual searches are no longer enough, the SanctionsLookup API automates the same screening workflow for onboarding, payments, and continuous monitoring, without requiring you to build your own sanctions-data pipeline.

Search Crypto Wallets Against OFAC Sanctions

You can use this OFAC crypto screening tool to search blockchain wallet addresses published by OFAC as identifiers associated with sanctioned individuals and entities.

The checker supports wallet searches across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tron. This is particularly relevant for crypto businesses because an OFAC designation can include a wallet address alongside a person's or entity's name.

Sanctioned hackers' wallet addresses appear directly on the SDN List. See our analysis of Operation Economic Outcast

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is An OFAC Check?

An OFAC check is the process of screening a name, entity, or identifier against US Treasury sanctions lists to verify whether they are subject to US sanctions restrictions. It is a legal compliance requirement for any business processing USD transactions or operating within the US financial system. This process is also referred to as sanctions screening, and under strict liability, a single prohibited transaction can trigger a civil penalty of up to $377,700 per violation. The purpose is to detect sanctioned parties before a transaction is processed, not after. Screening is required at onboarding, at the point of payment, and continuously as OFAC updates its lists.

How Do I Perform An OFAC Check?

To perform an OFAC check, enter a name, entity, or identifier, select the subject type, and run the search. The tool checks your input against OFAC sanctions lists using a proprietary fuzzy matching algorithm to identify potential matches and aliases. You can run the same check on individuals, companies, vessels, aircraft, and crypto wallets.

When Is An OFAC Check Required?

An OFAC check is required at three points: before onboarding a new customer or counterparty, at the point of payment or transaction, and continuously as OFAC updates its sanctions lists. A party who was clean at onboarding can be designated the next day. Under strict liability, every transaction with a sanctioned party is a violation regardless of when the designation occurred. For businesses processing USD transactions, automated continuous monitoring is the only reliable way to close that gap.

What Can I Search With This OFAC Search Tool?

You can search individuals, companies and other legal entities, vessels, aircraft, and crypto wallets to identify potential matches on OFAC sanctions lists.

Which OFAC Sanctions Lists Does This Tool Search?

The tool searches all OFAC sanctions lists published by the US Department of the Treasury: the SDN List and the Consolidated Sanctions List, which includes the FSE List, SSI List, NS-MBS List, NS-PLC List, CAPTA List, and NS-CMIC List. Together these cover over 17,000 SDN entries and approximately 1,920 non-SDN entries.

Who Needs To Conduct OFAC Checks?

Any business processing USD transactions, serving US customers, or routing payments through US correspondent banks must comply with OFAC sanctions. This includes banks, fintechs, payment processors, crypto exchanges, importers, exporters, and any non-US company with US financial exposure. There is no minimum transaction size and no industry exemption.

Can I Search Crypto Wallet Addresses?

Yes, you can search crypto wallet addresses across major blockchain networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tron. These addresses are published in OFAC sanctions lists as identifiers associated with sanctioned individuals and entities.

Is This Tool Free To Use?

Yes, this OFAC search tool is free for manual use with no signup required. You can search names and identifiers directly in the browser without an API or paid plan. For automated checks at scale, SanctionsLookup offers a paid API.

How Often Is The Sanctions Data Updated?

Sanctions data is synced every 15 minutes. OFAC updates its lists without a fixed schedule, sometimes multiple times a day. Every search runs against the most current designations available.

Can This Tool Be Used For AML, KYC, And KYB Compliance?

Yes, this tool can be used as part of AML, KYC, and KYB compliance workflows by screening individuals and entities against sanctions lists. It helps identify potential matches, but you are responsible for reviewing results, handling false positives, and making final compliance decisions.

What Happens If There Is A Match?

The tool returns match details including the entry name, aliases, sanctions program, and list source. Review the result against the full SDN entry, name, date of birth, nationality, and unique identifiers, to determine whether it is a true hit or a false positive. Over 95% of matches are false positives. If confirmed as a true hit, block the transaction, freeze associated assets, and report to OFAC within 10 business days.

Are OFAC Checks Different From OFAC Sanctions?

Yes. OFAC sanctions are the legal restrictions themselves: the designations, prohibitions, and programs administered by the US Department of the Treasury. An OFAC check is the screening process used to detect whether a party is subject to those sanctions before a transaction is processed. The sanction is the rule. The OFAC check is how you comply with it.

How Do I Automate OFAC Checks?

This OFAC search tool is built for manual, on-demand checks. For automated screening at onboarding, transaction processing, or continuous monitoring, the SanctionsLookup API handles it programmatically. It uses the same data, same matching logic, at any scale. Start with 100 free API calls, no credit card required.